In the first substantive discussions between the superpowers ‘ defense chiefs in nearly 18 months, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun met on Tuesday ( Apr 16 ) via video teleconference in Washington.
To combat China’s growing influence, the United States has been attempting to develop defense cooperation with its allies in the Asia-Pacific region. It also wants to keep communication lines with Beijing to stop tensions from waning.
” The two officers discussed US-PRC military ties and regional and global surveillance issues,” the Pentagon said in a speech, referring to the People’s Republic of China.
Following discussions between the two edges in recent months, Secretary Austin stressed the value of keeping the lines of military-to-military communication open between the United States and the PRC.
Additionally, Austin “reaffirmed that the United States may continue to fly, ship, and work safely and properly wherever international law permits,” and “understood the importance of respect for great seas freedom of navigation, guaranteed by international law, particularly in the South China Sea. “
Beijing, in turn, said Dong had used the talks to call for greater” trust” between the two forces.
” China and the US if… get peace as the most important, stability as the most crucial,” Dong told Austin, according to a Beijing reading.
” The military circle is the secret,” he said. to halting the growth of the partnership and preventing big problems from occurring,” Dong said.
He also issued a warning to the US about Taiwan, which Beijing claims to possess.
” Dong Jun emphasised that the Taiwan issue is the key of China’s key interests,” the defence ministry reading said.
He also urged the US to regard its country’s location on the South China Sea, which Beijing almost certainly claims to be completely secure and which has seen tensions rise recently.
The US part should regard China’s territorial integrity, regard its maritime rights, and hobbies in the South China Sea, and take action to preserve local peace, according to Dong.